Jungle Gold: Season 1
User Score
2.1 out of 10

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 23 out of 30

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  1. KB1
    Dec 1, 2012
    10
    Wow this world has become bitter and cynical. The guys may be in a lot of debt but at least they are working to find a way out. Look at how this world is, so many people who lost their shirt in the recession are sitting around and living off handouts. These guys are working, the show is a little cheesy at times which makes me laugh because you know these guys are actors. But its fun, a nice break from so much of the garbage that is on TV.
    And if these two jerks should be thrown out of Ghana DennisH, what about the Chinese who are squatting on other peoples properties? These guys seem to hire local people and sounds like they pay them, last I checked that is helping some of the industry in Ghana, what do you do living there "part time"?

    What I find particularly disgusting about several of these reviews is that they do not talk about the show they merely attack the actors in the show and speak of their alleged greed and misuse of their money. I would ask how do you know where they came from? Do you know what their circumstances were prior to this show? I sure don't but I know enough people who were fleeced during the the real estate boom that it comes as no shock that these two guys are in the hole, deep. The difference I see is that they are doing something different to get out of it. That is why I find this show fun!
    If i lost a grip of money in the housing market I would probably go back to school and get another degree like so many are right now, not these guys, they're mining gold in Ghana. That's thinking outside the box if I have ever heard of it. At least they are doing something to try to provide for their families and pay off debts. If you have time on Friday night and want to watch an entertaining albeit cheesy show at times, Jungle Gold is fun, occasionally intense and realistic depiction of the frustrations of trying to start a business in the middle of nowhere. If you don't like it, change the channel, that is the beauty of television. We have enough negativity in this world without everyone trying to tear down the work of others. I hope they hit the mother load and the show continues on for 18 seasons just to spite the negativity.    … Expand
  2. GhanaMiner
    Dec 9, 2012
    9
    Well, after reading other reviews, I am now inclined to write again as I am sure most people commenting have no idea what they are talking about. GO HERE AND EDUCATE YOURSELF http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/africainvestigates/2011/11/2011113071310331931.html . The Africans themselves have been causing their own problems to the environment and barely police it themselves. For most foreign investors, especially the company I am a part of, we are in the process of building a school with actual walls/roofs/and furnishings and providing medical/dental coverage with doctors from North America going into the villages and giving the care while educating them about it. We also gave 60 soccer balls to these kids as well. Although most probably don't do this, we have a social conscience that exceeds most other locally owned operations. When the land is finished mining people replant and replenish the land for farming again. The locals are paid well for the use of their land as well. Also, since these guys have legal claims they are obligated to pay percentages of their profits to the locals and the government as well. Most local operations run by uneducated Africans result in tremendous loss of life with little taken as forms of precaution for safety and the environment. By employing these people they give them a good life compared to most standards on the continent, some even learn mechanical trades and other useful skills they can apply elsewhere in their lives. If it wasn't for some mining, many can not do much else except walk around with bowls on their head and hawking/selling items to people for very little money. As for the water, since it is sub-tropical, it is not recommended to even drink the water due to parasites that can cause severe sickness. All drinking water is supplied through small sandwich type baggies, or very deep wells drilled on hill sides. As for the Chinese, they are some of the worst people to deal with. Not all of them, but many in Ghana are. They don't care about legislation or legality, more than 75% are illegal workers. As a matter of fact, not too long ago the Ghanaian government suspended visas between the two nations because of the actions made by the Chinese on the African soil. Also, with the oil that was discovered in Ghana, I am pretty sure they sold ALL the rights to the Chinese. And for the most part, with all the workers I talked to at our operation they didn't mind the Chinese as INDIVIDUALS, but they couldn't stand their PRACTICES and methods of achieving goals. Some of the workers from the mainland are actually prisoners who were sent to Ghana to work in order to finish of serving their time behind bars. It is as closed to indentured servitude as it gets in the world today. The show in general portrays their actions and exposes how they pillage other countries in order to sustain their growth and development back home. This is NOT UNIQUE to Ghana, you can probably find examples of this in any country that has worthwhile resources and not a strong, first-world government or living standard. As much as I don't agree with certain practices, the rest of the world doesn't care. It is them or us.. And it has been that way since the dawn of time.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Oct 26, 2012
    83
    The show's repetitive voice-overs are annoying. But you'll be sucked into this dangerous venture.
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  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Oct 26, 2012
    60
    It feels somehow as if there's a backstory here we don't fully know about. Still, their adventures are instructive and the dangers seem genuine.
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  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    Oct 26, 2012
    75
    Somehow, like the alchemists of old, Jungle Gold ends up making gold from lead.
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